Energy as an indicator of modernization in Latin America, 1890–1925

Abstract

In the absence of comparable macroeconomic indicators for most of the Latin American economies before the 1930s, the apparent consumption of energy is used in this paper as a proxy of the degree of modernization of Latin America and the Caribbean.This paper presents an estimate of the apparent consumption per head of modern energies (coal, petroleum, and hydroelectricity) for 30 countries of the region, 1890 to 1925. As a result, it provides the basis for a quantitative comparative analysis of modernization performance beyond the few countries for which historical national accounts are available in Latin America.

From organic to fossil and in-between: new estimates of energy consumption in the Swedish manufacturing industry during 1800–1913

“…Since the causality between mechanization and coal consumption is straightforward, installed motive power is a measure of the physical work per time unit available for the propulsion of machinery, and since the coal consumption in the residential sector was small as late as 1913, this is evidence for a robust result. Studies in which energy has been used as an indicator can be noticed in the context of these findings, which supports Rubio et al's (2009) use of modern energy as an indicator of modernization in Latin America. Coal consumption in Sweden was closely associated with mechanization through steam engines.…”

Fuelling the English breakfast: hidden energy flows in the Anglo-Danish trade 1870–1913

“…However, while there are many historical studies that investigate the energy that is consumed within the borders of a nation (Csereklyei et al 2016;Gales et al 2007;Henriques and Borowiecki 2017;Kander et al 2013;Krausmann et al 2008;Rubio et al 2010), only some of them focus explicitly on physical trade flows (e.g. Gingrich 2011;Schandl and Schulz 2002) and even fewer (Kander 2002;Kander and Lindmark 2006) attempt to calculate historical energy or CO 2 emissions flows incorporated in trade.…”

El tercer ciclo del carbón en Chile, 1973 a 2013: del climaterio al rejuvenecimiento

“…Fueron las importaciones de combustible para la industria azucarera cubana y la minería chilena las que abrieron el camino (Yáñez, 2012). Una estimación detallada del consumo de energías modernas (carbón, petróleo, gas e hidroelectricidad) entre 1860 y 1925 para los países latinoamericanos puede verse en Rubio, Yáñez, Folchi y Carreras (2009). Y específicamente para el carbón, véase Yáñez, Rubio, Jofré y Carreras (2013).…”

“…En el primer grupo, es necesario mencionar los aportes de Folchi y Rubio (2006), Jofré (2012), Rubio, Yáñez, Folchi y Carreras (2009), Rubio y Folchi (2012), Rubio y Tafunell (2014), y Yáñez, Rubio, Jofré y Carreras (2013). En cuanto al segundo grupo, se encuentran los trabajos de Garrido (2015), Yáñez y Garrido (2015) y Yáñez y Jofré (2011).…”